BURLINGTON, VT — The Vermont Lake Monsters are pleased to officially announce that Matt Fincher has been promoted from Assistant Coach to Head Coach for the 2024 season, taking over the helm of the Lake Monster from three-year Head Coach Pete Wilk, who passed away in April after a 15-month battle with cancer.

Fincher, who was as an Assistant Coach for the Lake Monsters during the 2021 and 2022 season, served as acting head coach for most of the 2023 season while Wilk was away from the team battling his cancer. Fincher helped lead Vermont to a 38-23 regular-season record and a runner-up in the FCBL playoffs.

“Ever since Pete’s cancer diagnosis we have had a plan in place for Matt to run the ballclub in Pete’s absence and he did a terrific job getting us to the playoffs for the third straight year,” said Vermont Senior VP C.J. Knudsen. “We had the same plan in place for this season.  With the start of the 2024 season campaign, now is the time to officially name Matt Fincher as our skipper to lead the charge and we are so we are pleased to announce that today.”

Fincher joined the Lake Monsters in 2021 after having been the Head Coach at the University of South Carolina Upstate for 22 seasons (1998-2019). He also served as an Assistant Coach for the Cape Cod League’s Chatham A’s for 10 summers (1997-2006) and at the time in August 2006 was the third person in the Cape League to have their number retired.

“I am very honored and appreciative of the faith that C.J. and Chris (English) have in me to lead the ballclub,” said Fincher. “We all miss Pete a great deal and it is going to be a tough season without him. Back in 2021, Pete talked me into coming to Vermont as his assistant and I am sure glad that he did.”

The 2024 Lake Monsters season begins Friday at Nashua before playing their home opener vs. Brockton at 6:05pm Saturday at historic Centennial Field.